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Abstract
HPLC analysis of broccoli seeds and laboratory-grown broccoli sprouts revealed that three aliphatic glucosinolates (glucoraphanin, glucoiberin and glucoerucin) and a group of indol-glucosinolates including 4-hydroxy-glucobrassicin are preformed in the seeds. In the early stage of sprouting a reduction (approx. 20%) of the aliphatic glucosinolates was measured. During further growing, until day 8, and subsequent cold storage up to the 12th day the amounts of the aliphatic glucosinolates levelled off. While 4-hydroxy-glucobrassicin declined continuously, three minor indole-derivatives increased steadily, but remained at a comparatively low level. Besides glucosinolates, folates were quantified in broccoli sprouts by stable isotope dilution assays (SIDAs). During germination, the contents of total folates increased to 72 μg/100 g fresh mass and 546 μg/100 g dry mass on the 4th day, which was equivalent, respectively, to a 3-fold and a 24-fold increase in the seed's content. Thereafter, total folates decreased again to 13 μg/100 g fresh mass until the 8th day of germination and remained at this low level. The folate pattern measured by SIDA revealed 5-methyltetrahydrofolate as the predominant vitamer at each stage. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]